Attachment for phonographs.



"No. 761,371." I I 'PAT NTBD MAY 31,1 904-.

E. GILBERT.-=

ATTAGHMENT FOR PHONOGRAPHS. APPLICIA TION rum) ma 2a. 1903.

30 MODEL.-

vW) 71155555 I Patented May 31, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

" ELAM GILBERT, OF PORTLANDoO REGON.

ATTACHMENT FORPHONOGR'APHHS- SPECIFICATION forming part ofLettTs :Patent No. 761,371,.dated. May 31, 19o4.

Application filed March 23, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:.

Be it known'that I, ELAM GILBERT, a-citizen of the United States, residingat Portland, county of Multnomah, Statev of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Phonographs; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same.

The present invention relates to means whereby the reproducer-head of the phonograph or graphophone is automatically raised with the stopping of the machine in order to lift the needle .or point of the diaphragmclear of or out of contact-with the record or to lower the said reproducer-head to place the needle or point of the diaphragm in contact with the record on the starting of themachine, the object ofthe invention being to provide against scratching or mutilation of the record during its removal from the mandrel of the machine, to expedite the work of changing the record, andv to provide against the stopping and. starting of the machine without automatically moving the reproducing mechanism from and toward the record.

To comprehend the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein Figure l is a front View of a phonograph with the attachment applied thereto, the lockgate being closed and the slide-plate for opmating the reproducer-head being lowered. Fig. 2 is a similar view disclosing thelock-- gate open and the slide-plate in its elevated position. Fig. 3 is a View similar to that, illustrated by Fig. 1 of the drawings, disclosing a modification as to the form of connection between the slide-plate and the face of the frame of the phonograph; and Fig. etis an end view of the mechanism disclosed by Fig. 2 of the drawings.

To the face of the phonograph frame or bed 1 is secured 'the longitudinally-movable slideplate 2, which may be attached thereto in V3.- rious ways. In the drawings two ways of slidably uniting the slide plate or bar 2 are illustrated. The simplest form consists in providing the slideplate with two inclined vertical slots 3 3, through which extend the pins or SerialNo. 1491123.; (IIo model.)

screws 4, which are fastened to the frame 1. As thus secured the slide plate or bar 2as moved outward and inward'longitudinally rides upon the projecting pins, studs, or screws 4 and is raised and lowered at an inclination tothe face of the frame 1, so as to cause the same to move above the edge of the said frame or to lower the same in line therewith. This form of connection is set forth in Fig. 1 of the draw- I ings. In Fig. 3 the slide-plate 2 is illustrated as being united to the face of the frame 1 by means of the inclined arms 5 5, which aims are pivoted at their lower end to the frame 1 and at their upper end to the said slideplate 2.

The slide-plate 2 is connected to a lever 6', pivoted to the frame 1 by means of the connecting-plate 7. In Fig. 1 of the drawings the lever 6 is illustratedas being attached at outward thefmoment the said plate is released to raise the slide-plate above the edge of the frame 1.

The slide-plate is forced inward and lowered" by means of the lock-gate 9, which is such that as thrown inward the same is moved downward at an inclination to'the face of the frame 1 until its upper edge is approximately flush with edge of the said frame.

The lock-gate 9 is held in locked position by means of the'latch 9 hinged to the frame 1. The 11631110 of this latch engages with the free end of the lock-gate when the same is closed. The moment the latch 9 is released and the lock-gate 9 swung outward the slideplate 2 by reason of its spring connection is moved outwardly at an upward inclination to the face of the frame 1, so that the upper edge thereof is carried or raised above the edge of the frame 1, Fig. 2 of the drawings.

Upon the upper edge of the slide-plate 2 rests the traveler or supporting-wheel 11 for the outer end of the reproducer-head 12,which carries the needle or point 13 of the diaphragm 14 of the reproducer. This needle or point traverses the wave-cuts within the face of the record 14: fitted upon the mandrel 15.

Connection is made between the lever 6 and the controlling brake-lever 16, which throws into and out of operation the drive mechanism (not shown) for the phonograph by means of the rod 17. As thus connected the said brakelever 16 is actuated with the inward and outward movement of the lever 6, due to the locking and releasing of the lock-gate 9.

When withdrawing an old record or placing a new record upon the mandrel, it is required to raise the reproducer-head in order that the needle13 will not scratch or mutilate the surface of the record as the same is slipped on or off of the mandrel: To remove or replace a record, the lock-gate must be fully opened. As at present constructed it is required that the reproducer-head be raised by hand either before or after the opening of the lock-gate and to lower the same to place the reproducer needle or point onto the surface of the record after the closing of the lock-gate.

By. the before-described invention the reproducer-head is automatically raised and lowcred, so that the reproducer point or needle will clear the surface of the record and be placed thereon with the opening and closing of the lock-gate.

As the slide-plate is raised and lowered it earries therewith the reproducer-head. By the described means for automatically raising and lowering the reproducer-head the operator is relieved of the necessity of handling this portion of the phonograph with the opening and closing of the lock-gate.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be protected by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine of the described character, the combination with the frame thereof, of the lock-gate hinged thereto, of the sound-reproducing mechanism, of means actuated by the opening and closing of the lock-gate whereby the reproducing mechanism is automatically raised and lowered for the described purpose.

2. In a machine of the described character, the combination with the frame thereof, of an end loek-gatehinged thereto, the sound-reproducing mechanism, a vertically and longitudinally movable support for the reproducing mechanism, and devices for operating the said support to raise and lower the reproducing mechanism with the opening and closing respectively of the hinged end lock-gate.

3. The combination with the frame of a phonograph, of a longitudinallymovable slide-plate connected thereto, a reproducerhead supported thereby, a lock-gate hinged to the said frame, and connections whereby the closing and opening of the lock-gate actnates the slide-plate to lower and raise the reproducer-head to move the diaphragm point or needle toward and from the record-cylinder of the phonograph.

4. In a phonograph, the combination with the frame thereof, of an end lock-gate hinged thereto, the sound-reproducing mechanism, a vertically-movable supporting device for the head of the reproducing mechanism, and devices actuated with the opening and closing of the lock-gate for raising and lowering the supporting device to move the reproducing mechanism away from and toward the record of the machine.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ELAM GILBERT. Witnesses:

W. S. WARD, GEO. W. DAVIES. 

